The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: vfr400boy on October 07, 2021, 09:24:57 pm
-
Had the local shepherd come and check my lambs and fluke my ewes, 3 of the lambs are booked in on Monday and iv sold them in halfs
The 8 pet lambs he says will have to wait till next spring now , hows best to over winter them hay and a little bit of feed ? I can get sugar beets ? Or will they be ok on grass ?
-
They will need hay, probably from around Christmas onwards depending on location, weather, how much grass you have, etc.
A small amount of hard feed will help them through their first winter and mean they will be fit to go sooner come spring. 1/4 to 1/2lb per head per day depending on breed / type. Make sure it's suitable for male sheep. Something like Carrs Champion Tup & Lamb. I have fed it mixed with soaked sugar beet but I haven't fed sugar beet on its own. It would probably be fine just to keep them ticking over, but others may know more.
You can feed whole fodder beet or turnips, if you can get them, instead of cake.
-
Can I give them whole sugar beet ?
-
My over wintering lambs just get grass and a feed block for a bit of protein and energy. They only get hay if it snows but have plenty of grass right through to spring.
-
Ok they is still plenty of grass and am taking the biggest 3 out on Monday, what block do you use?
Sorry for all the questions
-
I like the Mole Valley green energy block. My lambs graze some rougher grass over winter and have always done well with one of these blocks too as there’s a bit of urea in them to help forage digestability. But they are run on for breeding rather than fattening. https://www.moleonline.com/mvf-mole-lyx-extra-energy-elite-block-22-5kg-1059546 (https://www.moleonline.com/mvf-mole-lyx-extra-energy-elite-block-22-5kg-1059546)
-
I like the Mole Valley green energy block. My lambs graze some rougher grass over winter and have always done well with one of these blocks too as there’s a bit of urea in them to help forage digestability. But they are run on for breeding rather than fattening. https://www.moleonline.com/mvf-mole-lyx-extra-energy-elite-block-22-5kg-1059546 (https://www.moleonline.com/mvf-mole-lyx-extra-energy-elite-block-22-5kg-1059546)
Am passing mole valley on Thursday I will grab 2 thanks
-
I would have some hay just in case, or at least know where you can get some if you need it. If there is snow this winter they will need hay.
-
out of interest, why do they have to wait until the spring now ?
Lots of fat and store lambs being sold at my local mart.
-
out of interest, why do they have to wait until the spring now ?
Lots of fat and store lambs being sold at my local mart.
They just very small they was pet lambs so have not done as well as the lambs on the ewes , ( maybe my fault as iv never had ophen lambs before) I don't want to sell in the markets they will all be sold in halfs to family and friends etc , am in no rush as not doing it for the money
-
And I have some hay lined up all ready at a good price and in small bales off a friend for the ewes , he has a barn full
-
Can I give them whole sugar beet ?
I don't know. You can feed turnips (aka swede) whole to sheep (never whole to cattle, whole or chopped to sheep).
I found something on t'internet which said to always chop any beet for sheep unless feeding fodder beet unharvested from the field. It seemed to say never to feed sugar beet whole to anything, as it is higher in dry matter than fodder beet and not as nutritious (by 4 to 1 on fresh weight, which surprised me), so they will need to eat more and it's drier. But I don't know the provenance of that article.
-
Just taken 3 to the abattoir, I started setting up a pen with hurdles when the 3 biggest lambs come up to me i slowly opend the trailer n chucked a hand full of pellets in bobs your uncle all 3 and one smaller on straight in no messing! No stress , wish it was always like that
-
If you handle animals quietly and regularly they shouldn't really cause an issue being loaded. You prepared well and they trusted you - job done :)
I loaded my last lot of weaner pigs by throwing a couple of hardboiled eggs into the trailer (their favourite food). They shot up the ramp like the devil was on their tail!
I have to send some more off in a couple of weeks - hope they are as easy ......
-
Sugar beet is ok for them, but it's much harder than fodder (or other) beet so you will most likely need to chop it. I have one of those old fashioned root choppers which is great.
But if you do feed sugar beet do it slowly as it's higher dry matter, so more concentrated than other roots.
-
I like the Mole Valley green energy block. My lambs graze some rougher grass over winter and have always done well with one of these blocks too as there’s a bit of urea in them to help forage digestability. But they are run on for breeding rather than fattening. https://www.moleonline.com/mvf-mole-lyx-extra-energy-elite-block-22-5kg-1059546 (https://www.moleonline.com/mvf-mole-lyx-extra-energy-elite-block-22-5kg-1059546)
Hi I got my block today do I just pop it on the grass iv only ever used the ones in buckets before
-
Yeah you can do. Or you can get containers for them. It’ll be fine on the ground though.
-
Moving lambs to new feild next week , they is not as much grass as I first thort as some big trees down one side have not let any light in and the grass is thin , but am sure will be fine for a while yet , when the grass gets down shall I just feed hay and some pellets as well as the feed block ? The lamb pellets are £9.80 ish a bag is they cheeper way to do it ? Thanks and sorry for all questions
-
The feed block and the pellets together are probably overkill. If grass is short just give them hay to replace, and either pellets or a block. All feed has gone up recently, blocks will be more expensive too.
-
Arrr ok I will drop the pellets then, and start hay when the grass is about gone thanks
-
Iv started giving them a bit of hay now its taken them a week to start eating it
How much hay should 8 lambs eat ? Should I give them it ad-lib or a flap a day ?am using small bales , thanks
-
Give them what they will clean up that day. They will eat more if there is a frost or snow, or if the grass is really sodden, and less if it's a sunny day. You will learn to adjust without thinking ;)